Related

Ryan Gosling has had just about the best year imaginable. True, he wasn't named the sexiest man alive by People magazine, but he got something even better than that: George Clooney teased him about it. "He's been training and working so hard for it, Ryan Gosling has, he really wants it," said Clooney, a bit of man-to-man kidding that implicitly welcomes Gosling into that ironic club - comprising Clooney, Brad Pitt, Matt Damon and friends - that sits at the top of Hollywood royalty.

He made a film with Clooney, Ides of March, whose poster showed both their faces on the cover of Time magazine. Gosling said his mother phoned when she saw it. "She called me and was so excited, saying, 'You're on the cover of Time magazine.' I had to say, 'No, it's just the poster for the movie, ma.'"

This is exactly the kind of story that gives Gosling a boyish sex appeal that extends beyond his off-kilter good looks and toned body, although they seem to be working pretty well for him, too: He always seems to be dating one or another of the world's most desirable women (Eva Mendes as of this writing, but it's only December). He's both a heartthrob and a highly respected actor, and there appears to be nothing but blue skies ahead.

Not that 2011 was shabby. He also co-starred in the well-received romantic comedy Crazy, Stupid, Love as a ladies' man who teaches Steve Carell how to pick up women. It's a familiar movie role, but Gosling invested the character with an unexpected sweetness and sensitivity: You kind of felt sorry for him, as if he'd come second in the world's sexiest man competition or something.

In Ides of March, another critical darling, he was a political aide who sees his ideals crushed, and he brought a slick cynicism to the role. Those two movies were sandwiched around Drive, his third hit of the year. In that one, he plays an existential tough guy, a stunt driver/getaway man who turns out to be a formidable killer and a sensitive family man at heart. It was directed by Danish filmmaker Nicolas Winding Refn, with whom he now plans to do a remake of the sci-fi movie, Logan's Run.

Along the way, he picked up plaudits with even more regularity than he picked up girlfriends. He was praised by friends both new ("He's the best:" Refn) and old ("He definitely has that something on film, on camera, which is really cool. So I'm very happy for him:" Britney Spears, who started with Gosling and Justin Timberlake as TV Mouseketeers).

He's already looking ahead, if not to new girlfriends, then to new kinds of moviemaking. He met Mendes on the set of The Place Beyond the Pines, a drama about a motorcycle stunt driver - echoes of Drive - that also co-stars Bradley Cooper, who stole away that sexiest man title. The movie, which comes out in 2012, was made by Derek Cianfrance, who directed Gosling in last year's Blue Valentine.

"The Place Beyond the Pines was the best experience I have ever had making a film," Gosling told reporters. "I feel like I've been dating all these filmmakers, and now I just want to get married."

Watch out, Nicolas Winding Refn, although Gosling is still playing the directorial field, as it were. He's starring in Lawless, a new film by Terrence Malick, current king of art-house cinema, which is now shooting in Austin, Texas. (The movie co-stars Christian Bale, Cate Blanchett, and Rooney Mara, the star of The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo. The Gosling-Mara rumours have already started.)

In October, he'll be seen with Sean Penn in Gangster Squad, directed by Ruben Fleischer (Zombieland), in which he portrays a cop trying to keep East Coast hoodlums out of Los Angeles. And he plays the other side of the equation in Only God Forgives, a thriller in which he plays an American gangster who faces off with a cop in Thailand. That film - which co-stars Kristin Scott Thomas (whom he does not appear to be dating as of yet) - was directed by Refn.

He's everywhere, in other words, with the possible exception of the cover of People magazine. But who needs to be the world's sexiest man when you're the world's busiest?

Comments

We encourage all readers to share their views on our articles and blog posts. We are committed to maintaining a lively but civil forum for discussion, so we ask you to avoid personal attacks, and please keep your comments relevant and respectful. If you encounter a comment that is abusive, click the "X" in the upper right corner of the comment box to report spam or abuse. We are using Facebook commenting. Visit our FAQ page for more information.

Almost Done!

Postmedia wants to improve your reading experience as well as share the best deals and promotions from our advertisers with you. The information below will be used to optimize the content and make ads across the network more relevant to you. You can always change the information you share with us by editing your profile.

By clicking "Create Account", I hearby grant permission to Postmedia to use my account information to create my account.

I also accept and agree to be bound by Postmedia's Terms and Conditions with respect to my use of the Site and I have read and understand Postmedia's Privacy Statement. I consent to the collection, use, maintenance, and disclosure of my information in accordance with the Postmedia's Privacy Policy.

Postmedia wants to improve your reading experience as well as share the best deals and promotions from our advertisers with you. The information below will be used to optimize the content and make ads across the network more relevant to you. You can always change the information you share with us by editing your profile.

By clicking "Create Account", I hearby grant permission to Postmedia to use my account information to create my account.

I also accept and agree to be bound by Postmedia's Terms and Conditions with respect to my use of the Site and I have read and understand Postmedia's Privacy Statement. I consent to the collection, use, maintenance, and disclosure of my information in accordance with the Postmedia's Privacy Policy.